A new wave of controversy dominated the Indian media's attention after Podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia made a distasteful comment on comedian Samay Raina's YouTube show India's Got Latent. The now-deleted episode, sent shockwaves across the internet, resulting in multiple legal notices and FIRs lodged against Allahbadia, Raina and 30-40 other individuals associated with the show.

Amid all the noise, US-based think tank India Hate Lab (IHL) on Monday, February 10, released a pressing report on the surge in hate speeches targeting religious minorities in India, specifically Muslims. The report named several key political and far-right figures ranked by the highest number of in-person hate speeches they delivered in 2024.

The IHL report linked the sharp rise in hate speech to the Bhartiya Jananta Party's (BJP) ideological goals and the broader Hindu nationalist movement, suggesting they increased by 74.4%, from 668 in 2023 to 1,165 in 2024.

"On average, three hate speech events were held per day. This marks a 74.4% increase from 2023, when 668 such incidents were recorded. 1,147 (98.5%) speeches targeted Muslims—either explicitly (1,050) or alongside Christians (97)—while 115 (9.9%) targeted Christians, either explicitly (18) or alongside Muslims (97)," it stated.

However, despite its alarming findings, the report barely made a ripple in the mainstream media—no outrage, no headlines, and no national debate. This stark silence raises serious questions about the priorities of both the press and the legal system.

A Comedy Show Becomes a Scandal

The controversy erupted when Allahbadia asked a contestant, "Would you rather watch your parents have sex every day for the rest of your life or join in once to stop it forever?" The crude remark, seemingly a centuries-old Reddit 'joke', was considered so outrageous that a Parliamentary panel on Information and Technology (IT) is set to issue a formal notice to the YouTuber, as per reports.

Despite issuing a public apology, calling his comment "inappropriate, unfunny, and a lapse in judgment," the outrage against Allahbadia only intensified.

The incident became a nationwide debate about what constitutes acceptable humor, and whether comedians, particularly those on social media platforms, should be held accountable for their words.

So far, multiple FIRs and legal complaints have been lodged in Maharashtra, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

Adding fuel to the fire, state leaders have also weighed in on the issue. Ironically, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma—who, as per the IHL report, delivered 36 hate speeches in 2024, ordered the Guwahati Police to register a case against Allahbadia and the involved YouTubers.

The FIR invokes Sections 79, 95, 294, and 296 of the BNS 2023, along with Section 67 of the IT Act, 2000, and provisions from the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.

In response to the backlash, Raina has removed all videos of India’s Got Latent from his YouTube channel. The show, which reportedly garnered the highest viewership of 40 million and a minimum of 20 million, is no longer available on the platform.

Addressing the situation on Instagram on February 12, the comedian wrote, "The events unfolding have been overwhelming for me. I have taken down all videos of India’s Got Latent from my channel. My sole intention was to bring joy and laughter. I will fully cooperate with all relevant authorities to ensure a fair and transparent inquiry. Thank you."

The Double Standards of Mainstream Media

In the cacophony surrounding the controversy, the mainstream media's selective outrage has once again become evident.

However, the pattern is not new. In 2014, the 'AIB Knockout', a popular celebrity roast, faced similar backlash. Comedians including Tanmay Bhat and Gursimran Khamba, along with several Bollywood A-listers like Karan Johar, Alia Bhat, Ranveer Singh, and Arjun Kapoor were lambasted on the Prime Time shows for 'crossing a line.'

In 2020, comedian Kunal Kamra drew ire after being banned by multiple airlines for confronting Republic TV journalist Arnab Goswami on a flight.

Similarly, in 2021, stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui's purported "offensive jokes" about Hindi deities were blown out of proportion by the media, leading to several FIRs.

Actor-comedian Vir Das also faced media trials after his monologue 'Two Indias', performed at Washington's Kennedy Center in 2021, was deemed "too critical of the country."

While there is certainly a place for accountability, one must ask: why is this outrage so selective? Why is the same level of scrutiny not applied to political leaders who have made divisive and hate-filled statements that endanger the social fabric of India?

In September 2023, BJP MLA Mahesh Kisanrao Landge, threatened to repeat the Babri mosque demolition and labeled Muslim localities in Pune as "terrorist hubs," inciting communal tensions. A month later in October 2023, BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri made crass remarks against Congress MP Danish Ali, calling him a pimp, "Mullah Atankwadi" and "Katwa" (circumcised) in the Parliament.

Despite the divisive nature of such rhetoric, media coverage remained conspicuously muted on both the matters. This inconsistency not only highlights a double standard but also underscores the need for a more balanced and fair media approach.

The media's disproportionate response to the India's Got Latent controversy appears misplaced considering how common dark humor and risqué jokes are common in India’s meme culture and are part of the social media fabric. In fact, millions of Indians engage with dark humor daily, often consuming content that may not always align with traditional sensibilities.

Even stand-up comedians, both on YouTube and in live performances, frequently use dark humor as part of their act. So, should one isolated comment by a popular YouTuber really warrant such a massive media response, when millions of Indians consume far more offensive content online every day?

From 'Disruptor of the Year' to 'Disrupted of the Year'

What makes the situation even more bizarre is the fact that Ranveer Allahbadia is not just any content creator. Ironically, he was recognized by the government for his influence in the digital space. In 2024, he was awarded the ‘Disruptor of the Year’ title by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam.

Allahbadia, who has a 5.61 million subscribers on YouTube, 2.5 million on Instagram and 5,28,700 on X, has also hosted several right-wing ministers on his podcast, including those known for their controversial views. Some of the ministers featured on his YouTube channel 'BeerBiceps' include BJP ministers such as Rajeev Chandrasekhar, S Jaishankar, Smriti Irani and Piyush Goyal.

According to a report by Newslaundry, Apar Gupta, the founding director of Internet Freedom Foundation, revealed that most of Allahbadia's interviews were "co-presented by MyGov", a government agency.

As per the 2023 report, Allahbadia and his partner Viraj Sheth, CEO of Monk Entertainment, revealed that MyGov contacted them in May with the idea of featuring key cabinet ministers, which led to the "co-presented by MyGov" label. They also clarified that they did not bid for the March 7, 2024 tender and received no payment from the government. Sheth also mentioned that they plan to invite non-BJP politicians on their platform.

Given Allahbadia's close ties with prominent political figures, his sudden vilification over a comedic remark seems inconsistent with the recognition he has received. It’s curious that a content creator celebrated by the government is now being painted as a pariah for a single joke.

What is truly troubling about this entire episode is that the media, law enforcement, and political leaders seem more concerned with policing comedians’ jokes than addressing the far more serious issue of hate speech from top ministers. By focusing on trivial matters like a single inappropriate comment, the government and media are distracting the public from the real issues at hand, such as the growing divisiveness in Indian politics and society. Why target entertainers when the real threat to India’s social fabric comes from those in power, using their platforms to spread hate and division?

The rise of hate speech in Indian politics should be the story that demands attention, not an isolated joke made on a comedy show.